Malignant manifestations of ovarian teratoma

Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on January 11, 2025
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When ovarian teratomas are small, they usually do not exhibit any clinical symptoms. When teratomas become malignant, they grow faster, and if too large, may cause women to experience abdominal distension and pain. The pulling of surrounding tissues can also lead to pain in the lower abdomen on one side in women. When ovarian teratomas are severely malignant, they can invade or compress surrounding tissues, leading to related symptoms like compression of the fallopian tubes, causing infertility; or compression towards the bladder, causing frequent and urgent urination in women. The texture of teratomas is uneven. In certain special circumstances, such as when a woman suddenly changes her position, torsion or rupture of the teratoma can occur, causing acute lower abdominal pain and other symptoms of acute abdomen. Additionally, in the late stages of the disease, symptoms such as emaciation and anemia can also appear.

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Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Can ovarian teratomas affect menstruation?

Women with ovarian teratomas, when they are relatively small, usually do not affect the menstrual cycle. However, as they grow larger, they may compress the normal ovarian cortex, leading to abnormal ovulation, abnormal hormone secretion levels, disruption of the menstrual cycle, and can also cause difficulties in getting pregnant. Additionally, ovarian teratomas belong to germ cell tumors, which are multi-layered but can also develop into a single layer. Some teratomas are highly single-layered and can secrete certain hormones that affect women's endocrine system, thereby affecting the menstrual cycle.

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Written by Qu Chun Yao
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Is surgery necessary for ovarian teratoma?

If a color Doppler ultrasound confirms the presence of an ovarian teratoma, surgical treatment is required, as ovarian teratomas can be benign or malignant. Once diagnosed via color Doppler ultrasound, abdominal CT, MRI, or other radiological methods, surgery is necessary. Based on the surgical pathology results, if the teratoma is benign, cystectomy can be performed. If the pathology indicates malignancy, a more extensive surgical procedure and postoperative chemotherapy may be required. During this period, it is important to avoid ovarian cyst torsion and rupture to prevent the necessity of emergency surgery for acute abdomen. Ovarian teratomas cannot disappear naturally, so prompt surgical treatment is essential once diagnosed.

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Written by Wang Jing Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Is teratoma serious?

Teratomas are one of the most common ovarian tumors in women and are generally benign and not severe. If a teratoma is discovered, regular examinations are necessary. These examinations should assess the endocrine status, as some teratomas have endocrine functions, and also consider the growth rate and specific size of the teratoma. Based on the examination results, it will be decided whether regular follow-up examinations are sufficient or if immediate surgical treatment is needed. Therefore, examinations are very important.

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Written by Liu Jian Wei
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Symptoms of ovarian teratoma

In clinical practice, some women with ovarian teratoma may not exhibit any symptoms and the presence of an ovarian teratoma might only be discovered during a physical examination. In some cases, women with ovarian teratoma may experience torsion of the tumor after vigorous activity. When torsion occurs, the patient may suddenly feel pain in one side of the lower abdomen, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. If these symptoms occur, it is necessary to seek immediate medical attention and, if necessary, undergo timely surgical treatment.

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Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
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Why do benign teratomas recur?

Benign teratomas, although not aggressive or metastatic, do not require adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation therapy after curative surgery to fight the tumor. However, many benign teratomas recur after surgery and require further surgical treatment. The cause of benign teratoma recurrence is considered to be due to the persistent presence of oncogenic factors. Therefore, benign tumors can also recur, since the exact cause and pathogenesis of benign teratomas are still unclear clinically. Thus, prevention from an etiological perspective is not possible, and the only option is timely surgical removal upon tumor detection to prevent the benign teratoma from becoming malignant. For patients with benign teratomas, regular follow-up is necessary after curative surgery to monitor any changes in the condition. If signs of recurrence are detected, prompt intervention is necessary to prevent malignancy.